Yield, growth, and labor demands of growing maize, beans, and squash in monoculture versus the Three Sisters

Many Native American communities have historically grown maize, beans, and squash in polyculture as the Three Sisters because of the reciprocal ecological benefits the species provide each other and the surrounding environment. For instance, archaeological remains indicate that the Catawba Indian Nation had grown the Three Sisters for hundreds of years before experiencing the expansion of the colonial market economy, a smallpox epidemic, and the drastic loss of land. As a result, they have lost extensive traditional ecological knowledge as it pertains to farming. To support the Catawba Indian Nation’s food sovereignty initiatives, we assess the yield and labor demands of growing their traditional variety of maize, beans, and squash plants in the Three Sisters planting design versus in monoculture conditions. While total Maize yield was highest in monoculture, plants grew larger, had higher survival, and produced greater yield per plant and per unit area of land in the Three Si..., Data were collected from a field experiment conducted at the Catawba Indian Nation's Black Snake Farm, Rock Hill, SC, 29730 (34°55'10.5\"N, 80°53'45.1\"W) during the growing season in 2023.
, , # Data from: Yield, growth, and labor demands of growing maize, beans, and squash in monoculture versus the Three Sisters

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.ksn02v7dk](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.ksn02v7dk)

## Description of the data and file structure

**Corresponding Authors:**

1\)    Susana Wadgymar, Davidson College, Biology ([[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail]))

2\)    Ty Cryan, Davidson College, Environmental Studies ([[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail]))

Data Collection Dates: May 9th, 2023 - October 31st, 2023

**Location:** Black Snake Farm, Rock Hill, SC, 29730 (34°55'10.5\"N, 80°53'45.1\"W)

**Data Files:**

1\)    Bed_Yield_and_Labor: The compiled yield and labor data for each bed.

2\)    Focal_Maize_Data: Growth and yield data from the focal maize plants.

### Files and variables

#### File: Bed_Yield_and_Labor_-_Sheet1.csv

**Description:** The compiled yield and labor data for each bed.

Variables/ columns: 14

Cases/ rows: 34

| Variable...,